The trio huddled once more, strategizing their next move. Nadia’s intel had revealed a critical weak point: Camelia’s next business transaction would take place at an upscale nightclub known for under-the-table deals. If Marcus could intercept the meeting, he’d gain access to sensitive documents that could link Camelia directly to Magnus’s illegal operations.“This isn’t just about ruining her,” Marcus said, his eyes sharp. “This is about making sure she can’t come back from this.”Mara nodded. “Once we get those documents, the authorities will have no choice but to act. She’ll be finished.”Marco shifted uneasily. “What if things go south? Camelia doesn’t strike me as the forgiving type.”Marcus’s expression hardened. “Then we hit harder.”The nightclub buzzed with activity when they arrived—pulsing music, strobe lights, and an air of secrecy cloaking every conversation. Marcus and Mara moved through the crowd smoothly, with Marco trailing nervously behind them. Their target was upst
The documents were a goldmine, exposing not only Camelia’s financial misconduct but also ties to offshore accounts that Magnus used for laundering his dirty money. Marcus, Mara, and Marco knew they had something explosive in their hands, but the challenge now was executing the next step without triggering retaliation before their plan could fully unfold.The room was quiet except for the shuffle of papers as Mara organized the files into neat stacks. Marcus stood by the window, peering into the dark street below, his mind calculating every possible counterattack from Magnus and Camelia.“We can't afford to play defense anymore,” Marcus muttered, breaking the silence.Mara smirked. “We don’t plan to.”Their first move was to tip off a few journalists and legal contacts with select pieces of the evidence. But they knew this alone wouldn’t be enough. Both Camelia and Magnus had layers of protection, and simply going public wouldn’t take them down—it would only provoke them.“We need to p
Marcus, Mara, and Marco's victory over Magnus and Camelia came at a steep price. Though their enemies were arrested, the battle left lingering ripples that hinted at more trouble brewing beneath the surface. The dust had barely settled when Mara’s phone buzzed, alerting them to new complications.“It’s not over,” she muttered, glancing at her screen. “Magnus might be in cuffs, but half his network is still moving.”Marcus, perched on the edge of the room’s shattered couch, clenched his fists. “Then we finish the job.”The next morning, a wave of bad news hit them like a storm. Some of Magnus’s loyalists weren’t folding—they were rallying to his defense. The evidence Marcus had leaked to the media was being contested by well-funded lawyers, and rumors of retaliation were circulating in the underground networks.To make things worse, they received troubling intelligence that Camelia had activated her last-ditch alliances before she was arrested. Through a series of encrypted messages, s
The rooftop escape left Marcus, Mara, and Marco rattled but not broken. Their enemies had miscalculated—this trio wasn’t one to fold under pressure. Yet, as they navigated the dark alleys and made their way back to a safehouse, the unease grew. Someone had leaked their plan, and the enemy was moving fast, too fast. It wasn’t just another ambush; it felt like a calculated attempt to dismantle their entire strategy.The stakes had risen, and they knew they were running out of time.The safehouse was an unassuming apartment above an old bakery. The scent of stale bread mingled with the damp air, but it was secure—at least for now. Marcus sat at the scarred dining table, nursing a whiskey, while Mara paced the room. Marco, his wounded shoulder hastily bandaged, sat on a sagging couch, breathing heavily.“We need to figure out who gave us up,” Marcus said, tapping his fingers against the glass. His voice was low, simmering with controlled fury.“Someone inside the network,” Mara said, her
With the Black Card in their possession and enemies closing in, Marcus, Mara, and Marco were trapped in a tense standoff with Theresa and her mercenaries. The air crackled with the weight of unspoken threats, and every second felt like a countdown to chaos.Theresa eyed the Black Card, a greedy glint in her eyes. “Hand it over, and I might let you walk out of here with your lives. Otherwise, we can all make this very messy.”“Messy is exactly what we’re hoping to avoid,” Marcus replied, his voice steady but low, barely concealing his anger. “You think you can intimidate us with your hired thugs?”Theresa smirked, unfazed. “Oh, I don’t need to intimidate you. You’re outnumbered, and I have no problem leaving a few bodies behind. How does that sound?”Mara stepped forward, her demeanor cool but her heart racing. “You think we’re scared of you? You’re just a pawn, Theresa. You’re not running this show. You’re a means to an end for Camelia, and everyone knows it.”Theresa’s smile faltered
“We can’t just rush in blindly,” Sienna said, her arms crossed as she leaned against a vent. “Camelia has eyes everywhere. If we’re going to catch her off guard, we need to use her own tactics against her.”Marcus nodded, but his jaw was clenched. “I agree. But we need to know what we’re dealing with first. We can’t make any moves without intel.”Mara’s brow furrowed. “What if we set a trap? Draw her out, make her think she’s got the upper hand?”“That could work,” Marco chimed in, his enthusiasm rising. “If we make it look like we’re vulnerable, she’ll want to come after us. But we need to be careful. We can’t afford to let her get the Black Card back.”Just then, Sienna’s expression changed, her gaze turning serious. “There’s something you all need to know. I’ve been doing some digging, and it turns out Camelia isn’t just in this for the power. She’s hiding something big. Something that could change everything.”Marcus raised an eyebrow. “What are you talking about?”“Camelia has be
“Fall back to the main entrance!” Marcus shouted, trying to lead his friends through the crowd. “We need to regroup!”As they pushed through the panicked guests, Marcus caught sight of Mara, who was locked in a struggle with one of Magnus’s thugs. Her expression was fierce, determination shining through the fear, but Marcus felt a surge of protectiveness.“Mara!” he yelled, rushing back to her side.“Marcus, I can handle it!” she shouted, ducking under a punch and landing a sharp elbow to her attacker’s stomach. But just as she moved to throw another punch, another thug came from behind her, grabbing her by the arms and pulling her away.“No!” Marcus roared, adrenaline coursing through his veins as he charged toward her, ready to fight.As Marcus fought through the crowd, he could see Marco and Sienna trying to fend off two of Magnus’s men. Sienna was using every bit of training she had, landing precise strikes, while Marco struggled but held his ground.“Get to the exit!” Sienna yell
As the sun poured into the room, the rest of the group arrived. Mara was the first to break the silence.“Last night was intense,” she said, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. “But we handled it. I mean, we actually stood up to Magnus.”“Barely,” Marco replied, leaning against the kitchen counter, arms crossed. “That was just a skirmish. Magnus will come back, and he won’t come back alone.”Sienna poured herself a cup of coffee, the steam curling in the air. “We need to figure out his next move. He won’t let this slide, especially with how publicly he was humiliated.”Marcus turned to them, determination setting his jaw. “He’s going to come after us again, and we need to be ready. We should dig into what he’s been planning.”Mara nodded, her eyes brightening with a mix of resolve and concern. “But what about Camelia? We can’t forget she’s still connected to him. She could be a target or a pawn in his game.”The mention of Camelia shifted the atmosphere. Marcus’s stomach twisted at the t